59º North Chart & Reference Book Inventory

The inventor below represent ALL the paper charts, guidebooks & reference books we use on the boat, organized by hydrographic office, region, location (as in, where we physically have it at the moment!), owner (since we loan some from others) etc. This doesn't include the Canadian charts which we know are in Annapolis but not yet inventoried!

59º North Publishing...

Yep, after years of being book nerds ourselves, we're in the publishing game! Our first release is Yves Gelinas' Jean-du-Sud & the Magick Byrd, which we published in print to coincide with Season 2 of our Sailing Stories Podcast. You can buy the book directly from us, and even have it signed by Yves! Go to 59-north.com/shop to get your copy. Kindle & iBook versions also available (see shop for details).

Books We Love...

This list is going to grow exponentially as I get the time to update it! I've sorted it into 'Technical', 'Inspirational' and 'Fiction', but you can sort through several other categories by clicking on the 'category' or 'author' tag to sort the list. Or click the image for the Amazon link to buy them (I get no cut of this by the way, it's just for fun)!

As an aside, Mia and I always try to buy secondhand books - a great source is abebooks.com. We also highly value local bookstores, buying locally whenever we can. Most cities we visit, big or small, have used bookstores - seeking them out is part of the fun of travel!

John sailed around Cape Horn literally the day I was born - January 25, 1984 - and he's recently been a mentor of mine. All of his books are on this list, but this is a good technical one mixed with storytelling like only he can, to get you started.

This is another that occupies permanent space onboard. Brion Toss, master rigger (and podcast guest!), put together this two-parter on rig design and practical rigging solutions. Need to learn a splice? It's probably in here. We re-designed Arcturus' rig based on ideas from this book. A must-have for any sailor.

The book I learned celestial from in one of John Kretschmer's workshops, and the book I now teach my own workshops from! The easiest way to learn celestial, bar none, and a great reference to keep onboard the boat.

John Rousmaniere is a legend in the sailing world (and another podcast guest!), and his book, in it's 4th edition, is one I recommend most to new sailors and old hands looking to improve their technical skills.

The incredible story of of when whole countries fought for the high seas, and finding accurate time - the ingredient needed to get longitude with celestial navigation - was the scientific challenge of the day.

You'll need all three volumes, but these are the easiest and fastest way to reduce celestial sights, and what is referenced in the 'Nutshell' book featured on this page. You can download these free from the government here, but they're much easier to use in paperback format.

From the guy who wrote the 'Little Prince.' He was a mail pilot in the early days of airplanes, flying the mail route over the Sahara. This book directly relates to sailing in the philosophies behind it, and a beautiful read.

John sailed around Cape Horn literally the day I was born - January 25, 1984 - and he's recently been a mentor of mine. All of his books are on this list, but this is a good technical one mixed with storytelling like only he can, to get you started.

The true-life tale of two competing dive clubs on the coast of New Jersey that discovered a previously unidentified German U-Boat wreck, and the subsequent quest to be the first to identify it. Even if you're not a diver - but especially if you are - it's a great read.

Another Moitessier classic! This one famously describes his storm tactics, later dubbed in 'Heavy Weather Sailing' the 'Moitessier Method', though he actually borrowed the technique from Vito Dumas', another on our books list!

David Lewis is one of the unsung single-handers of the 1960s and 1970s - unless of course you've heard of him! This is a survival story as much as it is a sailing story, chronicling his circumnavigation of Antarctica. David Lewis previously had a ketch called 'Isbjorn', a big part of the inspiration for our own Isbjorn.

John rounded the Horn on January 25, 1984, literally the day I was born, on the classic Contessa 32 'Gigi.' This is his incredible account of that voyage, and the book that introduced me to him in the first place. John would later teach me celestial and has become a mentor to me in my sailing career.

Eric Newby wrote 'The Great Grain Race,' and spent time on tall ships. But he was also known as one of the UK's best travel writers in his day, and this is one of those books. If you like adventure, check it out.

The craziest story from the fabled Golden Globe Race of 1968, and probably the saddest. Crowhurst build the 'Teignmouth Electron' trimaran for the race, and never made it out of the Atlantic...the boat today is washed ashore somewhere in the Virgin Islands.

My favorite coffee table book (too big to keep on the boat!), and a Christmas present from Mia a few years back. Every country in the world has a full two-page spread with awesome little tidbits of information and beautiful photographs.

The classic adventure story of Thor and his crazy Norwegian friends who set out from South America on a balsa wood raft to prove that the South Pacific could have been populated by South American's. The museum in Oslo is equally fascinating!

From Outside Magazine: "By now, most people know this story down to the last dog and cat, but the immediacy of Worsley's account revitalizes it. If you don't feel his sorrow in losing his ship to the ice pack, share his delirium glissading down to the South Georgia whaling station that would be their salvation (a scene to which Shackleton, ever careful not to seem whimsical, gives only a cursory line in South), or tear up when the two men return to their friends on Elephant Island 128 days after they set out, you don't love adventure."

Alvah Simon heads north in his iconic boat, the 'Roger Henry,' and gets frozen in for a long winter of spiritual inspiration. He nearly dies when his diesel heater basically suffocates him with carbon monoxide. One of several books that has me drawn to the Arctic...

Recommended by the author himself, Yanne Larsson, but also on my own list! The fantastic and hilarious tale of two Swedes - Yanne and Carl - who set out to circumnavigate the globe on a handshake agreement with zero previous sailing experience. There will be more to come from me on this title, so stay tuned...

Thanks to Lance Garms for reminding me of this one! "Godforsaken Sea is the hair-raising account of the world's most demanding, dangerous, and deadly sailing race. Around the world, one sailor, one boat, no stops, no assistance. Author Derek Lundy's vivid book follows the field of the 1996 - 1997 Vendee Globe through the race's grueling four-month circumnavigation of the globe, most of it through the terror of the Southern Ocean."

Our friend Micah gave this to us before the trans-Atlantic on 'Arcturus.' I read it on the way across. It's a story of some guys in a wooden boat who re-traced the Vikings voyage westabout across the Atlantic. Vinland was rumored to be Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, or even New England. Equal parts history book and really cool voyaging tale. -Andy

This one was recommended by Bruce M., but I'm also including it in my list, as it's an all-time classic that I had forgotten about! The first real attempt to solo circumnavigate, with one stop in Australia. Set off a lot of future solo voyages.

The book I learned celestial from in one of John Kretschmer's workshops, and the book I now teach my own workshops from! The easiest way to learn celestial, bar none, and a great reference to keep onboard the boat.

The incredible story of of when whole countries fought for the high seas, and finding accurate time - the ingredient needed to get longitude with celestial navigation - was the scientific challenge of the day.

You'll need all three volumes, but these are the easiest and fastest way to reduce celestial sights, and what is referenced in the 'Nutshell' book featured on this page. You can download these free from the government here, but they're much easier to use in paperback format.

I was never into fiction until I was introduced to the Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami. Orwell's '1984' is my all-time favorite fiction book, and this title caught my eye for it's reference. It's impossible to explain - Murakami is a master at the surreal - but it's a fantastic work of art suitable for any long night watches! It'll draw you right in and introduce you to another world...

'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' begins my all-time favorite fiction series. The Swedish cultural references are what is so cool to me, and they are super accurate! I've read this or listened to it on audiobook over half a dozen times, most on long offshore passages...

Recommended by the author himself, Yanne Larsson, but also on my own list! The fantastic and hilarious tale of two Swedes - Yanne and Carl - who set out to circumnavigate the globe on a handshake agreement with zero previous sailing experience. There will be more to come from me on this title, so stay tuned...

Recommended by Gary Finn: "The definitive guide to understanding weather. Not only does it cover theory and basics, it delves into the latest weather forecasting technologies relevant to sailors everywhere. A must for planning cruises and passage making."

Recommended by Jim Burns: "They were stranded on the other side of Antarctica with the goal of establishing depots for Shackleton's trip. Once their ship disappeared from the anchorage, how would they survive the coming winter? Would they consume Shackleton's supplies or establish the depots?"

Recommended by Bruce McClellan: "Clare Francis is an interesting woman. She was trained as a ballet dancer and economist, but took to sailing and crossed the Atlantic solo in 1973. She then embarked on an ocean racing career which led to being the first woman to skipper a boat in the Whitbread Race (1977-78), finishing in fifth place in her Swan 65 ADC 'Accutrac'."

Recommended by Bruce McClellan: "A very detailed book about commercial square-rigged ships. Includes information on topics ranging from design, rigging, life on board, commercial considerations, record passages, record daily runs, and much, much more."

This one was recommended by Bruce M., but I'm also including it in my list, as it's an all-time classic that I had forgotten about! The first real attempt to solo circumnavigate, with one stop in Australia. Set off a lot of future solo voyages.

Recommended by Hugh Miller: "Awesome and inspiring sailing adventure into a an area where few cruisers have been. This couple have also circumnavigated, equally good book called 'Under the Endless Sky.'"